Throughout my entire life, I have been relying a lot on my friends. One who has observed my life can say I have been close to my friends more than anyone else. Most of those with whom I have been friends with were in my ‘close’ league. While I was in my early teens, I could see people making friends and of course best friends quite easily. To them the bond could be established in no time. Even though I made quick friends I always made it sure that they ended up in my frontier line. Sometimes I couldn’t understand those who made best friends out of a whim. One day you are strangers and the very next day, ‘Hey, meet my best friend …’ I find it quite ironical. Because I believe close friends cannot come straight from heaven.
I have also seen best friends who ‘break-up’ due to extra ‘add-ons’. ‘Add-ons’ mostly came as a single package essentially termed as ‘Boy Friend’. One of the friends finally ends up with a gorgeous guy (dream of every girl!). The guy can be quite cool in the beginning. As time moves on, he may start disliking the ‘other’ best friend. He will express his dislike to his girl. The girl who has eyes for only the guy now begins finding faults with her all-time best friend. Eventually they break up. This scenario is not rare. Friendships have withered right in front of me due to these fragile reasons.
There are quite a number of types of friendships among us. The common case may be child hood friends. My collection in this field is limited because I was rooted from one place to another in my child hood. But still I have managed to maintain those few ties that I have made. It sure takes effort from both the ends. But such things are not impossible. In the present world, such things may be close to null. Another case will be of course school friends. The ones which we used to spend around 6-7 hours with. When I think back to my school days, I still feel a twinge in my heart. My heart craves for those care free times. Those days were heaven. Nonetheless I had found my everlasting friends during those times. The next category arises from our college days. But friendships made in such duration will be purely professional (not in every case! There are exceptions!). Life-long friends are rarely found from college. Even the whole ‘boyfriend-girlfriend’ drama is based on professional ethics. Something which have to be thrown away after the designated years.
There was a time when I used to think close friends never leave us, no matter what. That they will stand by our side even if we hurt them beyond limits. I have had a lot of experience in this matter. I have been hurt and of course I have hurt people back too. I have had one such experience when I was in my 10th standard. Even though I was hurt and cheated on I am proud to say that I kept my cool. I could not confront the girl about this. The main reason being my inability to see her flounder in front of me. I didn’t want to get that particular satisfaction. The wound is still too fresh in my heart. I had pledged to myself that I would never hurt anyone in that manner. But of course, promises are made to be broken. I did hurt someone. Not just ‘someone’! One of my very close friends.
I still don’t know what had gotten onto me that particular day. I was completely in a havoc mood. I believe I wrecked everything between us with my behavior. Later on when I realized my mistake, it was too late. My friend was lost to me. I thought I could live with that. Myself always acting to be a tough one. But I couldn’t do that. The memories of our spotless friendship would drift back to me. I was completely wrought. Nothing was going right those days. Finally I was audacious enough to confront him. But nothing I did could break the ice. His words will always haunt me.
“Sachu… I used to love you more than anyone else. You were my bestest friend ever. The one and only. But I can’t come back. Too much have happened between us. Forgive me!”
Those were the days when I finally understood his importance in my life. Without him and his innocence, I would have reached nowhere in my life. He was my spine when I needed support and kindness. I couldn’t simply let him go. For all these reasons and much more, I began to repent my actions. The ice may melt but it might take ages. As the famous saying goes…
"FRIENDSHIP IS LIKE A CHINA CUP. ONCE BROKEN IT CAN BE MENDED. BUT THE CRACKS WILL ALWAYS REMAIN!”
